MEL'S. — Restaurant in Jefferson City

Classic Country-style diner with good food at reasonable prices!

05/05 marks my first, but not my last visit to Mel's Cafe. I waited 'til the lunch rush was tapering off for my first visit, here, and I must say, I'm glad I trip-trapped across town to come in!

I was seated quickly, and my requested cup of water was delivered and downed very rapidly. The menu all looks good, but I'd narrowed down my choices before heading out, so as to save time, because I was hungry.

I ordered the Southwest Omelet with cubed potatoes, and wheat toast. Within minutes, good-sized omelet filled with taco beef, onions, peppers, and topped with cheese, served with salsa and sour cream on the side.

So, after slathering the goodies on, (during which I received a second tumbler of water, and the first was refilled, hey, I'm a heavy water drinker) and adding some ketchup for the taters, I dug in. My tastebuds were singing happy tunes and painting a delightful Bob Ross show in my mouth.

Everything was hot and good. The Smuckers jelly was spread on my toast triangles with care, and all too soon, my meal had disappeared. My belly sighed a contented sigh, and I let things settle before placing the tip on the table, and proceeding to the cash register to pay my ticket.

With my local places, I try to help them by paying cash, if everyone did this, it would help keep prices lower for our non-chain friends. Those card fees add up to serious money at the end of the year. One well-known restaurant posted their cost at the beginning of last year at almost $30,000. It adds up fast!

Thanks, Mel's Cafe, for a great local experience, and like the Terminator, I'll be bahk! (Without all the associated...

Tried going for breakfast on Mother's Day, told there was a 15-20 minute wait. After waiting 52 minutes, I was upset and stressed because I was suppose to be meeting family but I didn't say anything. The waitress seating us must've noticed I looked upset so she asked if something was wrong so I said well we have been waiting 52 minutes (again I wasn't even going to complain, she's the one who started the confrontation... also worth mentioning, she called 3 other parties before us but they had already left due to the wait so can't imagine what the wait would've been if they'd stayed) and she said well, it's mother's day, do you still want to eat? I said yes and she said my friends restaurant has had an even longer wait than that today (I don't know why she continued to stand there escalating this when our waitress was by her waiting to help us, she could've just walked away if she wasn't actually going to be helpful) and so my husband said That's fine, ..but don't tell people it's 15-20 minutes.. she said I didn't say that.. he said Yes you did (we had both heard her say it!?) And she said no ive been telling couples 20-25 minutes (not true, and still way off, and why are you still here arguing about it?!) After a bit more back and forth about her stated wait time we decided to just leave, I was in tears as we exited but i'm so glad they didn't get any of our money because we headed over to Ruby Tuesday and got excellent service there. I can't imagine who would employ this level of TRASH. Food has always been mediocre anyhow so I don't really consider...

Due to COVID and then a change in the hours that Mel's was open, I had not been here in over two years. Well it is just as good as it ever was. Great breakfast at a great price. Sure won't wait as long to come back for our next visit. This is an amended review of what I wrote above. Mel's had opened a new building right next to their old location so we thought we would stop in for Dinner tonight and give it a try. It was a total disaster. The place is too big, does not have a welcome feel to it and smelled of fresh paint. You can see into the kitchen as the doorways into it from the dining room are huge. There is something very off-putting about watching somebody wash pans at a three compartment sink while you are eating. As good as the food has always been at Mel's, it is that bad now. Pork Tenderloin on my sandwich was a limp grease bomb on an bun saturated with butter. My wife's burger was an over cooked, rubbery and tasteless. It could not have been an all-beef patty.Neither of us could finish our dinner. We always loved Mel's and would take family there as it was good food at a fair price in a great, homey atmosphere. It is easily the worst meal we have had in the 7 years we have lived in Jefferson City. As much as we have always loved Mel's, we will now never go back because of what it is now. Unless it changes, they won't last long in their...